Coroner IDs Eureka motorcyclist in weekend crash

Officials on Monday identified the motorcyclist who died a day earlier in Eureka after crashing his bike.

"Tommy Ricardo Ruiz, who was 26 years old and from Eureka, died of blunt force trauma," Humboldt County Coroner's Office Deputy Coroner Ray Horton said.

According to a Eureka Police Department press release, an officer was on patrol driving northbound in the second lane of Broadway Street around 12:30 a.m., when he was passed by Ruiz, who was reportedly traveling over 80 mph while entering a 30 mph zone. The officer told dispatch but didn't take any action out of concern it would prompt Ruiz to speed more.

As the officer continued to drive, he saw Ruiz lose control of his motorcycle and strike a raised curb at West Grant and Broadway streets. Ruiz was pronounced dead at the scene.